Fitment for bottles or the like



May 12, 1959 G. H. MANGRAVITEI 2,886,220

FITMENT FOR BOTTLES'OR THE LIKE Filed March 5, 1957 650 665 lf/M/GRAV/TE StatesPatent O ice FITMENT FOR BOTTLES OR THE LIKE I c'esrgen. Mangravitqlynbi-bdk, N.YL, assignor to Twin l'lrees x( 'rarlziens, Inc., Lynbrook, N.Y-., a corporation of ew or Application March 5, 1957, Serial No. 644,163

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-545) This invention relates to fitments for bottles or the like and more particularly to a seal closure or a sifter closure adapted to be applied to bottles of various sizes and to be used in conjunction with a stopper.

An object is to provide a closure of the above type which may be readily applied to a bottle after filling.

Another object is to provide a fitment of the above type which automatically conforms to the size and shape of the bottle neck. t

Another object is to provide a fitment of the above type which may be applied to a bottle at the time of filling without substantial increase in cost of operation.

Another object is to provide a fitment of the above type which is disposed entirely within the bottle neck and below the bottom of the stopper.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

In accordance with the present invention the fitment comprises a flexible paper-like substantially unstretchable disk which for sifter purposes may have a series of central openings disposed therein. This disk is of a size to extend completely across and beyond the rim of the bottle, and is provided on its underside with an adhesive of a type adapted to secure the disk to the inside of the bottle neck.

For applying this fitment the thin flexible disk is placed across the rim of the bottle neck openings, if any, disposed in alignment with the bottle opening with the adhesive tacky for sealing to the bottle. A stopper is then thrust into place in the bottle neck, thereby pushing the flexible disk into the opening in the bottle neck and causing the skirt to be drawn folded and pleated against the inner surface of the bottle opening while the central portion forms a closure diaphragm below the bottom of the stopper. While in this position the adhesive is allowed to set, thereby securing the fitment in place in the bottle neck, after which the stopper may be removed while leaving the fitment in place.

If the fitment is in the form of an imperforate diaphragm it forms a permanent seal closure for the interior of the bottle which may be pierced after removal of the stopper to provide sifter openings for the contents of the bottle. If the fitment is perforated, sifter openings are provided which are accessible when the stopper is removed.

The nature of the invention will be further understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a specific embodiment has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a fitment disk embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a bottle neck and stopper showing the fitment disk disposed across the top of the bottle before the insertion of the stopper;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a bottle neck similar to Fig. 2 showing the fitment and stopper in place; and

Fig. 4 is a similar section showing the fitment secured in place and the stopper removed, for access to the contents of the bottle.

Referringto the drawings more in detail, the disk of Fig. l is formed of a sheet of thin flexible substantially unstretchable material such as paper, cellophane, polyethylene, vinyl or rubber-like material, metal foil, such as aluminum or lead, or fabrics, such as silk, linen, cotton, or the like, and in the embodiment shown the central portion of the disk 10 is provided with a plurality of perforations 11 which are adapted to register with the central bore of the container. The sheet 10 is coated onis provided with a cylindrical bore 18 adapted to receive 1 a stopper 19. The stopper 19 is now inserted in the bore- 18 as shown in Fig. 3 thereby drawing the flexible sheet 10 into place within the bottle neck 16 and with the central portion of the disk forming a diaphragm 20 beneath the lower end of the stopper 19 and causing the skirt to be folded over into pleats 21 against the inner surface 18 of the bottle neck.

After the adhesive on the disk 10 has setto secure the pleats 21 to the inner surface of the bottle neck as above described, the stopper 19 may be removed as shown in Fig. 4, thereby leaving the closure disk in place with the diaphragm 20 extending entirely across and closing the bore of the bottle neck at a point well below the top surface of the rim 15. I

In the above construction when the stopper 19 is removed the openings 11 in the diaphragm 20 provide a sifter closure through which the contents of the bottle may be utilized. The closure however, is resealed by the insertion of the stopper 19. 'If the openings are omitted the diaphragm 20 provides a complete seal for the interior of the bottle in which event the diaphragm must be pierced when the stopper 19 is removed to afford access to the contents of the bottle.

What is claimed is:

1. A sifter closure for a container having an elongated circular neck, said sifter closure comprising a thin smooth surfaced circular disk of flexible substantially unstretchable sheet material of substantially greater diameter than the diameter of the container neck to which the closure is applied and having the underside thereof coated with adhesive; said disk being formed into a cup shaped member having a central bottom section and an upwardly extending skirt section having a multiplicity of overlapping pleats, said cup shaped member being secured in the elongated circular neck of said container with the overlapping pleats of said skirt section adhesively secured together and to the inner wall of said elongated neck with the central bottom section of said member being disposed at least the length of said skirt section below the mouth of said container, the central bottom section of said cup shaped member having a smooth upper surface and being provided with a plurality of small sifter apertures; and an elongated circular stopper removably mounted in said cup shaped member with the circular wall thereof in contact 'with the inner surface of said pleated upwardly extending skirt section.

2. A sifter closure for a container having an elongated circular neck, said sifter closure comprising a thin smooth surfaced circular disk of flexible substantially unstretchable sheet material of substantially greater diameter than the diameter of the container neck to which the closure is applied and having the underside thereof coated with adhesive; said disk being formed into a cup shaped memher having a central bottom section and an upwardly Patented May' 12, 1959 extending skirt section having a multiplicity of overlap- Pin v pl ats, said cup pe mbe being e ured in the elongated circular neck of said container with the overlapping pleats of said skirt section adhesively securedtogether and to the inner wall of said elongated neck with the central bottom section of said member being disposed at least the length of said skirt section below the mouth of said container, the central bottom section of said cup shaped member having a smooth upper surface which is adapted to be pierced to provide a plurality of small sifter apertures; and an elongated circular stopper removably mounted in said cup shaped member with the :ncular wall thereof in contact with the-inner surface of said pleated upwardly extending skirt section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN. PATEN S Great-Britain Sept.;.8 Great Britai -s-.--.- 

